It is anew environment for quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s parlayed his success with theMinnesota Vikings into a multi-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, who inked him to a three-year, $100.5 million deal in the offseason.
Once thought to be a quarterback who’s never going to be a QB1 again, Darnold is having a renaissance of sorts, just like the one his former teammate with the Carolina Panthers, Baker Mayfield, is having with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After serving as a backup to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, Darnold went to the Vikings and rejuvenated his career. The former USC Trojans star signal-caller passed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions while going 14-3 as a starter with Minnesota.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, top right, and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, bottom left, attend the TGL match between Jupiter Links GC and Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center on March 4, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald notes Darnold’s competitiveness
Sam Darnold
Jan 30, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; NFC quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball in the Passing the Test event during the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
While now on a new team surrounded by new teammates, the confidence he built with the Vikings continues to manifest with the Seahawks in the offseason, and it’s clearly made an impression on Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald.
“Sam is doing a great job, Macdonald said (h/tJohn Boyle of the Seahawks’ official website). “Sam is a great feel for the offense right now in terms of growing every day. So you can feel the growth. You can feel the improvement, the confidence that we’re doing on that side of the ball and that we’re growing. It’s exciting to work with. He’s a heck of a competitor.”
Fresh off his first Pro Bowl season, Darnold now tries to prove that he can keep his form and even be better than last season, as Seattle hopes he’ll show the team its way to the playoffs again.
Sam Darnold
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold attends the TGL match between Jupiter Links GC and Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center on March 4, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
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